We all get cravings for specific foods every now and then, and those cravings can be so strong, they almost feel involuntary, like your body is missing some nutrient it can get from a Cinnabon. This isn’t typically how cravings work, though.

It’s not just your mindset that can shape your eating habits. Your environment plays a role, too. And in the case of your kitchen, a pile of dirty dishes just might influence you in ways you don’t realize.

Developing self control is not always easy to do, especially when you're trying to change a habit you've developed over time. To help fight your desire and stay the course, think of desire as a wave that builds and eventually passes by.

iOS/Android: If you're hungry and have no clue what you should make for dinner, or have a craving but don't know if you can make it with the ingredients you have, Gojee's new mobile apps for iPhone and Android can help.

Distracting yourself from the thing you're desperately trying not to do—eat sweets, smoke a cigarette, check Reddit—is one of the most effective willpower boosters. And taking a walk, it turns out, is one of the best ways to distract yourself.